If you are a runner, whether short, long or middle distance, this article on athletics with diabetes will be very interesting for you.

Athletics, in many of its forms, is becoming more and more popular these days. Things like running, marathons or half marathons are becoming increasingly common and have become the choice of many sports enthusiasts. If this type of sport interests you, whether in its running, jumping or strength variants, and you want to know if you can practice it with diabetes, no worries. All the variants of athletics are possible with diabetes, and if you want to know how to practice them safely, you just have to keep on reading.

Can you do athletics with diabetes?

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Of course you can! Diabetes does not stop you from doing any sport. In fact, aerobic exercises such as athletics are the most recommended ones for people with this condition, since they are done at a moderate intensity and they exercise a big part of the body.

This activity, among its thousand variants, can combine throwing, speed, jumping or resistance, so it is a very complete physical activity that does not only include running. Elite athletes with diabetes such as Patrícia González have shown that, with enthusiasm and control, diabetes is not a problem for practicing athletics.

However, in order to practice athletics with diabetes safely, and as Patricia Gonzalez comments in an interview, it is important to be constantly aware of your glucose levels, especially when you start practicing the sport.

There are many variables that can affect blood glucose levels when training or competing in athletics, so it is important to keep in mind that the body can react in a thousand different ways to the diverse factors such as hormones, stress, and so on.

To try to get your blood glucose levels under control when running with diabetes, it will be necessary to keep a close eye on your levels, especially when you are starting out in the sport to see how your body is reacting. Cori can help you with this task thanks to its weekly reports and notifications.

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People with diabetes are especially vulnerable to the dangers of colds and the flu, but there are things you can do to control your symptoms and avoid getting sick in the first place. You may maintain your health even when you’re feeling under the weather by constantly monitoring your blood sugar levels, staying hydrated, getting enough of rest, and adhering to your diabetes management plan. Additionally, you may lower your risk of getting sick and safeguard yourself from any problems by maintaining proper cleanliness, being vaccinated, and generally maintaining good health. Make sure to discuss any worries you may have with your healthcare team for advice and support if you have diabetes and are worried about managing colds and the flu.

Tips for athletics with diabetes

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If what you’ve read above has convinced you and you’re going to take up running with diabetes, here are some important tips:

  • Always talk to your doctor: Whatever type of athletics you are going to practice, do not forget to tell your endocrinologist so that he/she can adjust your diet and medications.
  • Always measure your blood glucose: Measuring your blood glucose before, during and after training can prevent many surprises and will help you to know at what levels your body is moving while training.
  • Tell your coach: If you are going to train in a team or with a professional, telling your coach or teammates that you have diabetes will allow you to practice the sport with confidence and to stop if you need to.
  • If you feel bad, don’t force yourself: If you feel bad, or you think you may be having hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, it is advisable to stop training.
  • Always go prepared (just in case): always carry water, fast-absorbing carbohydrates and your medication. It is also important that someone around you, such as your coach, knows how to administer medications or what to do in case of an emergency.

What are the different modalities of athletics?

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As mentioned above, athletics has many modalities and varieties from which you can choose if you have diabetes. Do you want to know what they are?

  • Running: Within this option, which is the most recognized, there are sprinting, long-distance, hurdles or relay races.
  • Walking: Unlike the previous one, in walking one foot must always be in contact with the ground, so it is about walking fast, but not running.
  • Jumping: In this group we find the long jump, the triple jump, the high jump or the pole vault.
  • Throwing: The purpose of this modality is to make an object, whether it is a shot put, discus, hammer or javelin, run as far as possible.
  • Combined trials: If you are a daredevil, the combined trials will be your thing. These include all the modalities in a single event. The most common is the decathlon, where you have to do 10 events in two days.

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